SIR G. GREY ON FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1100, 15 November 1883, Page 2

SIR G. GREY ON FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION.

Sir George Grey lectured on “Federation and Annexation ” last night at the Auckland Theatre Royal to a crowded, audience. Senior Councillor Waddell presided. Sir George was enthusiastically cheered on coming forward to address the meeting. He said he did not know whether he should be able to carry their sympathies with him, as the question was of less utility to the present than the time to come, but it was these apparently unpractical questions which guided the future and the welfa e of unknown millions. Looking to the past, he would tell them what he and those associated with him felt thirty-seven years ago as to the relations of New Zealand to the islands of the Pacific. They felt that unless those islands were taken possession of, something woise than slavery would be instituted, that adventurers would sacrifice everything for greed or gain, and possibly foreign powers intervene with protectorates. He relied on the people of Auckland to make sacrifices in regard to certain endowments. He said they were made for the benefit of both races in the islands of the South Pacific. Something was done in the southern provinces so that their schools, hospitals, and other institutions, were by the endowment deeds open to islanders. At that time negotiations were opened with Fiji and Tonga, while New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and the New Hebrides actually belonged to New Zealand; but <a party arose in England averse to the extension of the Empire, which had continued till the presnit day, and the opportunity then offered was let slip. That was forty years ago. Since then great changes had come about, and other Powers had entered the Pacific and brought about the results they now saw. During these forty yews he had hoped and waited for a grand reaction of the Anglo-Saxon communities, with one common language and literature strong enough to enforce what was right throughout the world. He thought the interference of this colony with the islands was not unwarranted, and would be for the benefit of the aboriginal inhabitants themselves. Why should they nvt now carry out the original plan, and send the flower s of their youth to the islands as magistrates and to other avenues of distinction ? Why not nut an end to the labor traffic in its present form, and substitute something better 1 ? The merchants then would have a new opening for commerce, for he included the large islands adjacent to the Australian continent in the term “ islands of the Pacific.” These colonies had a natural tight to have something to say in shaping their own destinies, and to influence the counsels of the Empire on matters which concerned them even secondarily. He believed the claim would now be granted cheerfully by British statesmen to the Australasian colonies, though refuse i with scorn 40 years ago. Referring to the legislation in the past session on South Sea Island affairs, he considered the intercolonial conference had not been begun under the best of auspices The questions to be dealt with were not party but national questionSj and the people of the colony should have chosen delegates. If ever there was an occa-ion on which such a method should have been adopted it was the present. He should have thought it due to the inhabitants of the great Australian colonies 1 1 know what they thought about it before he intruded himself upon them. When the question came up for final settlement, the whole col my should have a chance of deciding upon the issue and of choosing men who should take the final and irrevocable step. The present delegatee should have only power to report their conclusions or recommendations, and the people should see that nothing was agoeed to or decided till the report of the delegates was submitted to Parliament, and the final decision should be left to the national vote. The matter was too important for the country to run risks. Oould anyone tell what was to be submitted to the conference or what it should do? When the report of the delegates was made, it should be published, so that public discussion might bo excited, and a careful consideration given to the question. There were certain cardinal points which should be insisted on ; first, that no exterior power should control their domestic population or interfere with their right to know what they thought best for their own benefit within the limits of the colony. British statesmen, he believed, would be willing to take colonies into their confidence, and would be willing to discuss with them the question of federation. Second, that they should be heard in the councils of the Empire on all matters relating to their relations with the neighboring countries or powers. There was a party at Home who cared nothing for the colonies, and were willing to let them go ; whose maxiura was to buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest markets. The Orange Free State has been cut off from the Empire, and islands in the Pacific had been surrendered without Parliament ever being consulted. The third cardinal condition should be that no colony or portion of the Empire should be surrendered save by Vet of Parliament. There were oertain things in which they should federate with the other colonies by treaty or other .vise—defence for instance. He did not think the people of New Zealand would derive such valuable results from feieration as the North American colonies had done. For instance: If they had a Federal Assembly for the Australian colonies, when the labor question cropped up, their interests would be conflicting, and New Zealand would be in the minority, and it remained to be seen what compensating advantage we would get against that disability. His idea was to keep New Zealand a purely European Power, and to keep out Chinese and the Malay hordes, which would press upon as. No portion of gain from cheap labor should lead the n to sacrifice that aim. They had ample facilities for defence, and the best possible opportunities of showing to the colored races around what the Anglo-Saxon race was, and what it could accomplish. In Australia, from the nature of the country and climate, there was sphere for the colored races, as the soil could only be cultivated by them in certain sections of the esuntry, but he foresaw for Australia in the future a time of trouble and difficulty with alien races on the labor question, unless her institutions were kept free, and the people of New Zea

land should, if run the risk of the competition of colored labor. At; the -Cap's -of Good Hope Europeans-could not compete :as period from childhood to youth, and incipient manhood had now been entered upon, with the rights and responsibilities attached to manhood. In this, the greatest crisis which had arisen in his life, ha hoped the people of New Zealand would stand shoulder to shoulder, and aid and farther the great movement which had now arisen in the Australian colonies. They would yet meet again before;the question was finally settled and fought. Sir George Grey concluded his lecture amidst great applause. Mr J. A. Tole, M. H.R., moved, and Mr Hill seconded the following resolution —“ That this meeting accords its hearty thanks to Sir George Grey for his able and eloquent address on ‘ Federation and Annexation,’ and is of opinion that the islands in the Pacific Ocean should not be made the receptacle for the convicts of any nation. ” Carried by acclamation. The meeting broke up with throe cheers for Sir George Grey.